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Montréal's Eighth Wonder of the World-The Victoria Bridge

© Norman P. Goldman

If you ever wondered what it is like to cross a bridge that was originally built for trains you must venture across the Victoria Bridge and firmly hold onto your steering wheel!

The Victoria Bridge which is considered by some to be the Eighth Wonder of the world, is located at the foot of Rue Bridge in Montréal.

This landmark was completed in the year 1859 and during its peak construction years 6 steamboats, 72 barges, 3040 men (of which there were several children between the ages of 8-12),144 horses, and 4 locomotive engines were required to erect this Eighth Wonder of the world at a cost of $6,600,000.00

It is also interesting to note that when the bridge was being built the workmen had discovered human remains of Irish immigrants to Canada who had fled Ireland in 1847-8. Unfortunately many of these immigrants had died of Typhus when they arrived in Canada.

To-day when you approach the bridge you will see a stone with the following inscription: "To preserve from descration the remains of 6000 immigrants who died of ship fever A.D.1847-8 this stone is erected by the workmen of Messrs.Peto,Brassey and Betts employed in the construction of the Victoria Bridge A.D.1859." This stone has become known as "The Irish Stone."

The building of the bridge is directly tied in with the Grand Trunk Railway which railway was incorporated in 1852 and was the main trunk line running through the United Province of Canada.

It is to be noted that the Grand Trunk Railway become North America's first international railroad.

Due to the fact that the port of Montreal was closed during the winter season, the Grand Trunk Railway wanted to have access to Portland Maine which never closed.

However, in order to reach Portland Maine from Montréal it was absolutely necessary to cross the St. Lawrence River and this could only be accomplished if a bridge were built.

Prior to the building of the bridge it was impossible to cross the St.Lawrence during the long winter season as there would be a freeze up as well as a thawing in the fall and spring.

During the summer the crossings of the river had to take place by boat and in winter it was accomplished by sleigh.

Although the bridge was completed within five years in December of 1859, the official inauguration was the summer of 1860 and what an inauguration!

Queen Victoria had been invited to attend the opening of the bridge, however, she declined the invitation and instead sent her eldest son Albert Edward, Prince of Wales and heir to her throne. In fact this was the first visit of a royal prince to a British colony to Canada.

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